Brumovsky Pablo R
Institute of Research on Translational Medicine, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) - Austral University, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina Department of Anesthesiology, Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Pain. 2016 Feb;157(2):314-320. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000381.
Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is a rate-limiting enzyme broadly expressed in noradrenergic and dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system [57,70]. TH is also expressed by peripheral sympathetic neurons [98] as well as by enteric neurons within the gut [81,84]. Over 30 years ago, TH was unexpectedly discovered in developing and adult rodent cranial and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Today, TH-expressing DRG neurons are being re-discovered as a relevant subpopulation. This review addresses the emerging importance of TH-expressing DRG neurons in sensation and pain mechanisms, focusing specifically on: 1) their nature as C-low threshold mechanoreceptors (C-LTMRs); 2) their involvement in nociception/pain; and 3) their catecholaminergic phenotype.
酪氨酸羟化酶（TH）是一种限速酶，在中枢神经系统的去甲肾上腺素能和多巴胺能神经元中广泛表达[57,70]。TH也在外周交感神经元[98]以及肠道内的肠神经元中表达[81,84]。30多年前，在发育中的和成年啮齿动物的颅神经节和背根神经节（DRG）神经元中意外发现了TH。如今，表达TH的DRG神经元正作为一个相关的亚群被重新发现。本综述阐述了表达TH的DRG神经元在感觉和疼痛机制中日益凸显的重要性，特别关注：1）它们作为C类低阈值机械感受器（C-LTMRs）的性质；2）它们在伤害感受/疼痛中的作用；3）它们的儿茶酚胺能表型。
